Quick Appeals question

[LucasNorthCanSpookMeAnytime]

The school we're appealing to is full at PAN in every year except Y11, which is 1 place under PAN. Is this of any relevance at all to proving school isn't full? (I'm assuming they will say "yes, Y11 isnt full, but your child will be going into Y7 which IS full")

TIA.

[meditrina]

Your assumption is the correct . It's a question of being full in the year for which you seek a place.

(Though if over numbers in any year, this can be used to question the assertion, that they are bound to make, that they cannot cope with higher numbers than PAN).

[LucasNorthCanSpookMeAnytime]

Thanks, meditrina.

OK, now I have a more complicated question! :) From next September, the school will be taking on 30 extra pupils in Y7, presumably meaning a 2-form entry for Y7. But the official info says "the school is increasing its pupil capacity to provide an addition 150 pupil places". I think this means that each year will then be able to take on another 30 (5 school years with 30 extra in each year = 150 places). BUT they will only be taking on the initial Y7 extra 30, so does that mean that Years 8-11 will then be under by 30 places?! And is any of this of any use to me in proving school can take on extra pupils? This is all very complicated - hope it makes sense!

[meditrina]

Do you mean September 2014 or September 2015?

It looks from what you have written that the school has a future plan to expand, but you cannot really use that in an appeal for entry now, as all the various elements in that plan (extra classrooms becoming usable, more staff employed, timetable reworked etc) will already be in hand and on a timeline. They cannot just be changed to increase PAN immediately.

[LucasNorthCanSpookMeAnytime]

The extra places will be from September 2015.

I'm just wondering whether it helps when balancing prejudice ie. your school will only suffer prejudice for one year by admitting my child, but my child will suffer for her whole secondary school life.

[prh47bridge]

If it depends on building work that hasn't happened yet there is no point mentioning it. It might be worth bringing it up if the buildings are all in place and in use. It will then be for the panel to judge whether the school has good reasons for sticking with the current PAN this year.

[LucasNorthCanSpookMeAnytime]

Thank you both!